Our household grows by one

You heard right!  Ann Martin is home!!  It is still pretty surreal, I find myself staring at her often.  I am probably creating a monster but I can't keep my hands off of her.

Many have asked how our first night was.  The room-in at the hospital was not so smooth.  She acted like she had her nights and days confused.  Also could have been that she was in a different room with new sounds and smells.  Not sure but I do know that all she wanted was to eat and be held.  The crib was for the birds.  So, mommy here got very little sleep.  She did cry/scream some that night but more so than anything, she grunts and squeals a lot.  This made me uneasy not knowing what she needed or if she was just making noises.  So...my mom said last night here to help me.  We are trying to keep her on her NICU schedule so I fed at 11 PM, mama at 2 am, me at 5am and Rob at 8am.  She said in my mom's room and she did not rest well either because of the grunting/squealing.  Guess we will be taking turns who she sleeps with (in her bassinet).

She has done pretty good today.  She took a great nap between 2pm-5pm.   She likes her swing a lot until her paci falls out.  I am so torn whether or not to give it back to her every time.  I of course have because I don't like her screaming...I am worried her breathing will suffer if she gets too worked up.  She still head bobs if she gets out of breath...

Pictures to come!

So blessed!

I never remember to look at my last post to see what I have already told yall.  Bear with me if I repeat myself.  

Her weight has gotten up to 5 lb 8 oz.  However, since she is on the diuretics, she has lost a few ounces.  She is now at 5 lb 5.5 oz.  We are not as worried about her weight right now and she should level out as she adjust to being on this medication.  We will probably come home on this medication. 

As of 5:00 am this morning she has been off of oxygen.  I cannot begin to tell you all what a blessing this is.  Really, we are witnessing a true miracle, answered prayer!  I think the diuretics are working perfectly!  When she takes her bottles it takes more energy so her oxygen saturation drops some.  So this morning at 8:00 they put the oxygen back on for her to feed and then took it back away.  At the 11:00 and 2:00 feedings her O2 Sat was 97-100.  Can. not.believe. this.  The last time I talked to them was 3:45 so I am not sure of the 5:00 feeding.  She will have some blood work done tomorrow and some of it is blood gases so we can see how she is truly doing oxygen wise. 

Morgan's shower this weekend with great friends!

Wonderful family shower! Always a good time!

Special thanks to Cousin June for the mantle decor!!

We might have our Valentine baby afterall!!  We appreciate the continued prayers!!

We are getting close!

I have been a terrible blogger lately...feeling really guilty!  Sorry for the delay in posting such monumentous occasions in sweet Ann Martin's life!  We have loved having our own room in the NICU!  It is quaint, cozy and really makes us feel one step closer to being home.  Her room is the closest room to the nurses station so it is really loud.  I am hoping this prepares her to sleep through Molly and Copper's noisy behaviors.  Those of you who know our pups, know they won't stop their insane barking just because there is a new baby in the house.  I am really starting to make sure everything is washed, the room is just right, and making last runs to get baby essentials.  I can feel it in the air!

We were in Jackson on Friday and Saturday this past weekend.  On Friday afternoon between our visits, she decided she had had enough of the tube down her nose.  That's right, she pulled her feeding tube out!  They decided to try her on only PO feeds.  Since then she has done perfectly!  They do not anticipate having to put her back on tube feeds.
Oh, and she weighs 5 lb 3.5oz.!

She is on 10ML of oxygen as of this afternoon.  Her nurse had an order to trial her off of 20ML of oxygen to nothing but she didn't last long.  They should try her again tomorrow.  There is a possibility of coming home on oxygen.  That has always been an option but it really scares me.  She would be followed by home health and I really wonder what experience home health companies in Meridian have with preemie's...even if they do have experience, they are only at my house MAX 1 hour a day but more likely 3 times a weeks. I don't know...I have really been praying for God to provide wisdom for doctors and strength and bravery for me and Rob.  The oxygen is the ONLY thing keeping her there..so all of you prayer warriors out there, here is a specific prayer we would really appreciate.

Her eye doctor came to see her today and he said he would not need to see her again until she was 6 months.

So, we all know what to pray for and now we are truly in a waiting game.. Love you all!